The
San AntonioSan Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team
based in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs compete in the National
Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western
Conference Southwest Division. The team plays its home games at the
AT&T Center in San Antonio.
The Spurs are one of four former
American Basketball AssociationAmerican Basketball Association (ABA)
teams to remain intact in the NBA after the 1976
ABA–NBA mergerABA–NBA merger and
the only former ABA team to have won an NBA championship. The Spurs'
five NBA championships are the fourth most in history (tied with the
Golden State Warriors) behind only the
Boston CelticsBoston Celtics (17), Los
Angeles Lakers (16), and
Chicago BullsChicago Bulls (6). The Spurs currently rank
first among active franchises for the highest winning percentage in
NBA history,[6] and have a winning head-to-head regular season record
against every active NBA franchise.[7][8]
In their 40 NBA seasons since 1976–77, the Spurs have won 22
division titles. They have made the playoffs in 27 of the last 28
seasons (since 1989–90) and have only missed the playoffs four times
since entering the NBA; they have not missed the playoffs in the 20
seasons since
Tim DuncanTim Duncan was drafted by the Spurs in 1997. With their
50th win in the 2016–17 season, the Spurs extended their record for
most consecutive 50-win seasons to 18 (the Spurs did not win 50 games
in the strike-shortened 1998–99 season, which lasted only 50 games).
Since the 1997–98 season, the Spurs have had 20 consecutive seasons
with a winning percentage of .610 or greater during the regular
season, which is also an NBA record.[original research?] The team's
success during this period coincides with the tenure of current head
coach Gregg Popovich, who had been the team's general manager before
replacing
Bob HillBob Hill as coach in 1996.

The Spurs in San Antonio[edit]
The Spurs are the city's only team in any of the four major U.S.
professional sports leagues and the only major-league team in the
city's history to have lasted more than five years. Spurs players are
active members of the
San AntonioSan Antonio community, and many former Spurs are
still active in
San AntonioSan Antonio including David Robinson with the Carver
Academy[9] and
George GervinGeorge Gervin with the
George GervinGeorge Gervin Youth Center.[10]
The Spurs set several NBA attendance records while playing at the
AlamodomeAlamodome including the largest crowd ever for a
NBA FinalsNBA Finals game in
1999,[11] and the Spurs continue to sell out the smaller AT&T
Center (formerly SBC Center) on a regular basis.
Since 2003, the team has been forced on an extended road trip for much
of February since the AT&T Center hosts the
San AntonioSan Antonio Stock Show
& Rodeo. This is informally known as the "Rodeo Road Trip".[12]
The Spurs have consistently posted winning road records during this
period, including an NBA-record longest single road trip winning
streak (eight games out of nine, achieved in 2003).[13]
When the Spurs have won the NBA title, the team's victory parades have
been boat trips on the
San AntonioSan Antonio River Walk.[14]
Franchise history[edit]
1967–1973: Dallas Chaparrals/
TexasTexas Chaparrals[edit]
Main article: Dallas Chaparrals
The
San AntonioSan Antonio Spurs started out as the
Dallas Chaparrals of the
original version of the
American Basketball AssociationAmerican Basketball Association (ABA). Coached
by player/coach
Cliff HaganCliff Hagan the
Dallas Chaparrals were one of 11 teams
to take the floor in the inaugural season of the upstart ABA. The
Chaps' second season was a bit of a disappointment, as the team
finished in 4th place with a mediocre 41–37 record. In the playoffs
the Chaparrals quickly fell to the New Orleans Buccaneers.[15]
The team suffered from poor attendance and general disinterest in
Dallas. In fact, during the 1970–71 season, the name "Dallas" was
dropped in favor of "Texas" and an attempt was made to make the team a
regional one, playing games in Fort Worth, Texas, at the Tarrant
County Convention Center, as well as Lubbock, Texas, at the Lubbock
Municipal Coliseum, but this proved a failure and the team returned
full-time to Dallas in time for the 1971–72 season, splitting their
games at
Moody ColiseumMoody Coliseum and Dallas Convention Center Arena.[16]
1973–1976: Coming to San Antonio[edit]
While the Chaparrals had been modestly successful on the court, they
were sinking financially by their third season, largely because the
ownership group refused to spend much money on the team. After missing
the playoffs for the first time in their existence in the 1972–73
season, nearly all of the owners wanted out. A group of 36 San Antonio
businessmen, led by Manager/Angelo Drossos, Chairman of the Board/John
Schaefer and President/Red McCombs, worked out a "lend-lease" deal
with the Dallas ownership group. Drossos and his group would lease the
team for three years and move it to San Antonio, and agreed to return
the team to Dallas if no purchase occurred by 1975.
After the deal was signed, the team was renamed the San Antonio
Gunslingers.[17] However, before they even played a game the name was
changed to Spurs. The team's primary colors were changed from the red,
white, and blue of the Chaparrals to the now familiar black, silver
and white motif of the Spurs.[18]

The team's name derives from a spur, a metal tool designed to be worn
on the heels of cowboy boots for the purpose of controlling a horse's
movement and direction

In the first game at the
HemisFair Arena the Spurs lost to the San
Diego Conquistadors, despite attracting a noisy crowd of 6,000 fans. A
smothering defense was the team's image, as they held opponents less
than 100 points an ABA record 49 times. The early Spurs were led by
ABA veteran James Silas, and the team would get stronger as the season
went on as they twice took advantage of the Virginia Squires,
acquiring Swen Nater, who would go on to win Rookie of the Year, in
November, and "The Iceman"
George GervinGeorge Gervin in January. The ABA tried to
halt the Gervin deal, claiming it was detrimental to the league, but a
judge would rule in the Spurs' favor, and Gervin made his Spurs debut
on February 7. The Spurs would go on to finish with a 45–39 record,
good for 3rd place in the Western Division.
In the playoffs, the Spurs would battle the
Indiana PacersIndiana Pacers to the
bitter end before falling in seven games.
San AntonioSan Antonio embraced the
Spurs with open arms; the Spurs drew 6,303 fans per game, surpassing
the Chaparrals' entire total attendance in only 18 games. Schaefer,
Drossos and McCombs knew a runaway hit when they saw it. After only
one year, they exercised their option to tear up the lease agreement,
buy the franchise outright and keep the team in
San AntonioSan Antonio for
good.[19]
The team quickly made themselves at home at HemisFair Arena, playing
to increasingly large and raucous crowds. Despite a respectable
17–10 start during the 1974–75 season, Coach
Tom Nissalke was
fired as owners become tired of the Spurs' slow defensive style of
games. He would be replaced by Bob Bass, who stated that the Spurs
would have an entirely new playing style: "It is my belief that you
cannot throw a set offense at another professional team for 48
minutes. You've got to let them play some schoolyard basketball."
George GervinGeorge Gervin and
James Silas took that style to heart, as the Spurs
became an exciting fast breaking team on the way to a solid 51–33
record, good enough for second place in the West. Gervin said, "Our
whole theory was that you shoot 100 times, we'll shoot 107." However,
in the playoffs the Spurs would fall to the
Indiana PacersIndiana Pacers in six
games.
Even though playoff success would elude the team, the Spurs had
suddenly found themselves among the top teams in the ABA. Moreover,
their gaudy attendance figures made them very attractive to the NBA,
despite the size of the market. Although
San AntonioSan Antonio had over 650,000
people at the time (and has since grown to become the seventh-largest
city in the United States), it has always been a medium-sized market
because the surrounding suburban and rural areas are not much larger
than the city itself. In June 1976, the
ABA–NBA mergerABA–NBA merger took place,
moving San Antonio's sole professional sports franchise into a new
league. The Spurs, Denver Nuggets,
Indiana PacersIndiana Pacers and New York Nets
moved to the NBA for the 1976–77 season.
The Spurs and the other three ABA teams agreed to pay the owners of
two other strong ABA teams that folded instead of joining the NBA.
John Y. Brown, Jr., the owner of the Kentucky Colonels, received
$3 million, which he used to purchase the NBA's Buffalo Braves
and later the Boston Celtics, after selling star guard Louie Dampier
to the Spurs. The owners of the
Spirits of St. LouisSpirits of St. Louis received a
portion of all television profits during their NBA tenure, which
amounted to roughly 1/7 of the Spurs' television profit every year.
This agreement placed particular financial pressure on the Spurs and
the other three former ABA teams.[20] In 2014, the Spirits' owners
reached agreement with the NBA to end the perpetual payments and take
a lump sum of $500 million instead.[21]
1976–1985: The
George GervinGeorge Gervin era[edit]
Although there was some initial skepticism in league circles regarding
the potential success and talent levels of the incoming ABA teams, the
Spurs would prove worthy of NBA inclusion during the 1976–77 season
with a record of 44–38, good for a tie for fourth place overall in
the Eastern Conference. This was done in spite of significant
handicaps the NBA imposed on the incoming ABA teams, limiting their
draft picks and television revenues during their early time in the
merged league. They gained a new rival in the form of the Houston
Rockets, who had played in
TexasTexas for five years prior to the merger.
During the 1977–78 season,
George GervinGeorge Gervin and David Thompson of the
Denver NuggetsDenver Nuggets battled all season for the NBA scoring title. On the
final day of the season, Thompson took the lead by scoring 73 points
in an afternoon game against the Detroit Pistons. That night Gervin
knew that he needed 58 points against the Jazz in New Orleans. Gervin
got off to a good start by scoring 20 points in the 1st quarter. In
the 2nd, The Iceman was even better, setting a single period record
with 33 points. Early on in the 3rd period Gervin scored his 58 points
on the way to 63 capturing the scoring title. While Gervin was
lighting up the scoreboard the Spurs were winning the Central Division
with a 52–30 record.
However, in the playoffs the Spurs would be stunned in six games by
the
Washington BulletsWashington Bullets despite an outstanding series from Gervin who
averaged 33.2 ppg. The following season in the 1979 Conference Finals
the Spurs led the series 3–1 but the Bullets came back to win the
last three games and came from behind to win the 7th game 107–105
handing the Spurs a heartbreaking loss. The Spurs would have to wait
another 20 years to make it to their first NBA finals.
The Spurs would go on to capture five division titles in their first
seven years in the NBA and became a perennial playoff participant.
However, in the playoffs, the Spurs would never find a break, losing
to teams like the Washington Bullets, the Boston Celtics, the Houston
Rockets, and the Los Angeles Lakers.
As the 1980s progressed, the Spurs would see their shares of highs and
lows. For the first few seasons of the decade, the Spurs continued
their success of the 1970s with records of 52–30 in 1980–81,
48–34 in 1981–82, and 53–29 in 1982–83 (it was during this
period that the Spurs were moved to the Western Conference).
Despite their regular season success, the Spurs were unable to win any
NBA championships, losing in the Western Conference playoffs to the
Houston RocketsHouston Rockets in the first round of the 1981 and the Los Angeles
Lakers in four games 1982 and in six games in the 1983 Western Finals
despite getting both wins at the Forum in the 1983 series. They lost
every home game in both series in 1982 and 1983 vs the Lakers as Magic
Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and co. were too strong. The Spurs did
not make the conference finals until 1995.
After the 1984–85 season, Gervin, who had been the Spurs' biggest
star, was traded to the
Chicago BullsChicago Bulls in what effectively signaled the
end of the era that began when the Spurs first moved to San Antonio.
1985–1989: Difficult years[edit]
The next four seasons were a dark time in Spurs' history with the team
having a combined record of 115–213 from 1985–86 until 1988–89.
The losing seasons and dwindling attendance often caused the Spurs to
be mentioned as a potential candidate for relocation to another city.
The lone bright spot during this period was the Spurs being awarded
the top pick in the 1987
NBA draftNBA draft through NBA Draft Lottery. The
Spurs used this selection on
United States Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy standout
David Robinson. Although drafted in 1987, the Spurs would have to wait
until the 1989–90 season to see Robinson actually play, due to a
two-year commitment he had to serve with the
United StatesUnited States Navy.
The Spurs seemingly bottomed out in 1988–89 with a record of
21–61, the worst in franchise history at the time. However, the
1989–90 season was notable for several reasons. It was the first
season of full ownership for Red McCombs, who was an original investor
in the team and helped solidify local ownership for the team.
Additionally, the 1988–89 season featured the debut of Larry Brown
as the Spurs head coach who moved to
San AntonioSan Antonio after winning the
NCAA National Championship with Kansas in 1988.
1989–1997: Arrival of The Admiral[edit]
Although there was speculation that Robinson might choose not to sign
with the Spurs and to become a free agent once his Navy commitment
ended,[22][23] Robinson decided in the end to come to
San AntonioSan Antonio for
the 1989–90 season.
While it was thought his arrival would make the Spurs respectable
again, no one expected what happened in his rookie season. Led by
Robinson, 1989 draftee
Sean ElliottSean Elliott from Arizona, and trade
acquisition
Terry Cummings from the Milwaukee Bucks, the Spurs
achieved the biggest one-season turnaround in NBA history, finishing
with a record of 56–26. They also jumped all the way to first place
in the Midwest Division, their first division title in seven years.
Robinson had one of the most successful rookie seasons for a center in
NBA history, finishing the season as the unanimous Rookie of the Year
while averaging 24.3 points and 12.0 rebounds.
The Spurs began the 1990s with great optimism. The team became a
perennial playoff presence, although unable to advance further than
the second round of the
NBA PlayoffsNBA Playoffs under Brown's tutelage. Late in
the 1991–92 season, McCombs fired Brown and replaced him with Bob
Bass for the remainder of the season. Without a healthy David
Robinson, the Spurs were swept out of the first round of the playoffs
by the Phoenix Suns.
McCombs made national headlines during the summer of 1992 with the
hiring of former
UNLVUNLV head coach Jerry Tarkanian. The Tarkanian
experiment proved a flop, as the coach was fired 20 games into the
1992–93 season with the Spurs record at 9–11. After Rex Hughes
filled the coaching shoes for one game, NBA veteran John Lucas was
named head coach. It was Lucas' first NBA coaching assignment,
although he had gained recognition in league circles for his success
in helping NBA players rehab from drug abuse. The Lucas era started
out successfully. His coaching propelled the team to a 39–22 finish
over the rest of the regular season, and the team reached the Western
Conference semi-finals.

The Alamodome, home to the Spurs from 1993 to 2002.

In 1993, local businessman Peter M. Holt and a group of 22 investors
purchased the Spurs from
Red McCombs for $75 million. In the
1993–94 season, the Spurs' first in the newly built Alamodome, Lucas
led the team to a 55–27 record but the team suffered a loss in the
first round of the playoffs, which led to the immediate firing of
Lucas as head coach. Prior to the season the Spurs traded fan-favorite
Elliott to the
Detroit PistonsDetroit Pistons in return for rebounding star Dennis
Rodman.
Lucas was replaced by former Pacers coach
Bob HillBob Hill for the 1994–95
season. Elliott returned to the team after an uneventful season with
the Pistons, and the team finished with the NBA's best record at
62–20, cracking the 60-win mark for the first time in franchise
history. Robinson was named the league's Most Valuable Player. The
Spurs reached the Western Conference Finals, but lost to the eventual
NBA Champion Houston Rockets. Throughout the season, and particularly
in the playoffs, there appeared to be friction developing between
Rodman and several Spurs' teammates, most notably Robinson. Rodman was
traded to the
Chicago BullsChicago Bulls after the season, and helped the Bulls win
three titles from 1996 to 1998.
The Spurs finished the 1995–96 season under Hill at 59–23 and lost
in the Western Conference semi-finals. Few observers could have
predicted how far the Spurs would fall during the 1996–97 season,
especially with the signing of Dominique Wilkins. Robinson missed the
first month of the season due to a back injury. He returned in
December, but played only six games before a broken foot sidelined him
for the rest of the season. Elliott also missed more than half the
season due to injury. Without Robinson and Elliott, the Spurs were a
rudderless team. The lone bright spot was Wilkins, leading the team in
scoring with an average of 18.2 ppg. The Spurs ended the season with a
20–62 record, the worst in franchise history—and to date, the last
time they have missed the playoffs. Hill only lasted 18 games as coach
that season, eventually being fired and replaced by general manager
Gregg Popovich, who had also served a stint under Brown as an
assistant coach. Wilkins would play his lone season in 1996–97 for
San Antonio, knowing his minutes and playing time would greatly
diminish next season.
As disastrous as the 1996–97 season was for the Spurs, the offseason
proved to be the opposite. With the third-worst record in the league,
the Spurs won the NBA's draft lottery, which gave them the top pick in
the 1997 draft. The Spurs used their pick to select Wake Forest
product and consensus All-American Tim Duncan.

1997–2016:
Tim DuncanTim Duncan era[edit]
1997–2003: The "Twin Towers"[edit]
Further information: Twin Towers (
San AntonioSan Antonio Spurs)
Gregg PopovichGregg Popovich watched
Tim DuncanTim Duncan play in summer league and
immediately noted that, "If I try to coach this guy, the only thing I
can do is screw him up", effectively saying that Duncan was very
gifted, very intelligent, and had a keen knowledge of the game.
Duncan quickly emerged as a dominant force in the NBA during the
1997–98 season, averaging 21.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game as
a power forward. He was named First Team All-NBA while winning Rookie
of the Year honors. The team ended up at 56–26, breaking their own
record from 1989–90 for the biggest single-season improvement for
wins, but once again lost to the Jazz in the Western Conference
semi-finals. While both Duncan and Robinson played low-post roles, the
two seamlessly meshed on the court.
With a healthy Robinson and Duncan and the additions of playoff
veterans such as
Mario ElieMario Elie and Jerome Kersey, the Spurs looked
forward to the 1998–99 season. Prior to the beginning of training
camps, however, the NBA owners, led by commissioner David Stern,
locked out the players in order to force a new collective bargaining
agreement with the
National Basketball Players Association (NBPA). The
season was delayed for over three months until resolution on a new
labor agreement was reached in January 1999.

The Spurs won five championships, all with Duncan and Popovich.

Playing a shortened 50-game season, the Spurs earned an NBA-best
37–13 record (.740 win percentage, and only season since Duncan was
drafted the Spurs did not win at least 50 games in a season as of
2016). The team was just as dominant in the playoffs, rolling through
the Western Conference with a record of 11–1. In the NBA Finals,
they faced the New York Knicks, who had made history by becoming the
first eighth seed to ever make the NBA Finals. The Spurs won the
series and the franchise's first NBA Championship in Game 5 at the
Knicks' home arena, Madison Square Garden. Duncan was named the NBA
Finals MVP. The Spurs became the first former ABA team to reach and to
win the NBA Finals. They also won the
1999 McDonald's Championship1999 McDonald's Championship in
the off-season and were the last champions of that tournament as it
was disbanded right after.
Coming off their first NBA Championship, the Spurs were still among
the best teams in the West and battling for first place in the Midwest
Division during the 1999–2000 season. On March 14, the Spurs playoff
spirits got a lift when Sean Elliott, who received a kidney transplant
from his brother prior to the season, returned and played in the last
19 games. As the season wound down, Duncan suffered a knee injury and
the Spurs finished in second place with a 53–29 record. Without
Duncan, the Spurs were knocked out of the playoffs by the Phoenix Suns
in four games.
The long-term viability of the Spurs franchise in
San AntonioSan Antonio was,
however, achieved during the 1999–2000 season, as Bexar County
voters approved increases in car rental and hotel taxes which would
allow for the construction of a new arena next to the Freeman
Coliseum. The Spurs finished with 58–24 records for both the
2000–01 and 2001–02 seasons but found themselves suffering playoff
ousters in both seasons from the eventual NBA Champion Los Angeles
Lakers, getting swept from the 2001 Conference Finals and losing in
five games during the second round in 2002.

The Spurs visit the White House after their championship in 2003.

Entering the 2002–03 season, the team knew it would be memorable for
at least two reasons, as David Robinson announced that it would be his
last in the NBA and the Spurs would begin play at their new arena, the
SBC Center, named after telecommunications giant SBC, whose corporate
headquarters were located in
San AntonioSan Antonio (SBC became AT&T after
its acquisition of its former parent company). To mark this occasion,
the Spurs revamped their "Fiesta Colors" logo and reverted to the
familiar silver and black motif (though, during the time of the Fiesta
logo, the uniform remained silver and black). This version of the
Spurs was very different from the team that had won the title a few
years earlier. Second-year French star Tony Parker, drafted by the
Spurs in the first round of the 2001 NBA draft, was now the starting
point guard for the Spurs. The squad featured a variety of newly
acquired three-point shooters, including Stephen Jackson, Danny Ferry,
Bruce Bowen, Steve Kerr, Steve Smith and Argentine product Manu
Ginóbili, a 1999 second-round draft choice playing in his first NBA
season.
The Spurs christened the
SBC CenterSBC Center in style on November 1, 2002 by
defeating the
Toronto RaptorsToronto Raptors 91–72.[24] The Spurs would not get off
to a flying start as they had just a 19–13 record heading into
January. In January the Spurs began to gel and seemed prepped to make
a run, when they embarked on their annual Rodeo Road Trip, a nine-game
road trip from January 25 to February 16. However, it would be hardly
a bump in the road for the charging Spurs, who won eight of the nine
and began to climb their way to first place. The Spurs went on to
erase their seven-game deficit and finished the season in a tie with
the
Dallas MavericksDallas Mavericks for the best record in the NBA (60–22). Thanks
to a tiebreaker, the Spurs won their third straight Division title as
Tim DuncanTim Duncan claimed his second straight NBA MVP.[25]
In the playoffs, the Spurs defeated the Suns, Lakers and Mavericks en
route to facing the
New Jersey NetsNew Jersey Nets in the NBA Finals. The series
against the Nets marked the first time two former ABA teams played
each other for the NBA Championship. The Spurs won the series 4–2,
giving them their second NBA Championship in franchise history.
Duncan, after having been named NBA MVP, was also named Finals MVP.
2003–2004: Bridging the Gap[edit]

Coming off their second NBA Championship, the retirement of David
Robinson left a void in San Antonio's daunting defense, while playoff
hero
Steve KerrSteve Kerr and veteran forward
Danny Ferry also retired.
Meanwhile, backup point guard
Speedy ClaxtonSpeedy Claxton was left for the
Warriors, and
Stephen JacksonStephen Jackson left for Atlanta. With several holes to
fill in their rotation, the Spurs would make several key signings in
the off-season.
Rasho NesterovicRasho Nesterovic and
Hedo TürkoğluHedo Türkoğlu were brought in
to replace Robinson and Jackson, respectively. What proved to be the
most important off-season acquisition would be the signing of veteran
Robert Horry.
The Spurs, playing with nine new players, struggled early as they
missed the presence of Robinson while the new players struggled to fit
in, as they held a 9–10 record on December 3. However, the Spurs
would turn it around, as they ended December on a 13-game winning
streak and quickly climbed back to the top of the NBA standings. They
would battle all year for the top spot in the Western Conference, as
they ended the season on another strong note winning their final 11
games. However, they would fall one game short of a division title and
the best record in the West, posting a record of 57–25. In the
second round of the playoffs, the Spurs found themselves in another
showdown with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Spurs would win Games 1 and
2 at home, but drop the next two in the Los Angeles. In Game 5 back in
San Antonio, Duncan seemingly delivered the Spurs a 73–72 win as he
hit a dramatic shot with just 0.4 seconds remaining. However, the
Lakers'
Derek FisherDerek Fisher would launch a game-winner as time expired,
giving the Lakers a stunning 74–73 win to take a 3–2 series
lead.[26][27][28] The Spurs would eventually lose the series in six
games.
2004–2013: The "Big Three"[edit]
Further information: Big Three (
San AntonioSan Antonio Spurs)

"The Big Three"

Tim Duncan

Tony Parker

Manu Ginóbili

After their disappointing second round collapse, the Spurs looked to
regain the NBA crown. With the acquisition of guard
Brent BarryBrent Barry from
Seattle, the Spurs would get off to a quick start, posting a 12–3
record in November. The Spurs would stay hot through December as they
established a 25–6 record entering the New Year. With the later
additions of center
Nazr MohammedNazr Mohammed from New York (acquired in a
midseason trade of Malik Rose), and veteran forward Glenn Robinson
from free agency, alongside regulars Bruce Bowen, Robert Horry, Tony
Parker, Manu Ginóbili, and Tim Duncan, the Spurs would be near the
top in the Western Conference all season, battling the Phoenix Suns
for the best record in the NBA. Just as it appeared the Spurs would
cruise toward the playoffs their season suddenly hit a bump in the
road when
Tim DuncanTim Duncan suffered an ankle injury. The Spurs struggled the
rest of the season, finishing just 59–23. However, by the time the
playoffs rolled around, Duncan was ready to return.
In the postseason, The Spurs went through the West relatively easily,
culminating with a 5-game victory in the Conference Finals over the
Phoenix Suns. In the NBA Finals, the Spurs would face the defending
champion Detroit Pistons. The first two games in
San AntonioSan Antonio were both
Spurs victories as Ginóbili led the way with 26 and 27 points, in
blow out wins by the Spurs. However, as the series shifted to Detroit,
the Spurs were the ones who were blown out, losing Games 3 and 4 by
big margins as the Pistons evened the series. Faced with a third
straight loss in Detroit, the Spurs would play tougher in Game 5,
which would go into overtime. After going scoreless in the first half,
Robert HorryRobert Horry hit a clutch three-point shot with nine seconds remaining
to give the Spurs a dramatic 96–95 win.[29] The series moved back to
San AntonioSan Antonio for game six, but the Spurs were unable to close out the
series, setting up a deciding Game 7. In Game 7, Duncan had 25 points
as the Spurs pulled away late to win their third NBA Title in seven
years with an 81–74 win.[25] Duncan was named Finals MVP, becoming
the fourth player to win the MVP award three times (joining Magic
Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, and Michael Jordan).

AT&T Center at night, the home of the Spurs.

Coming off their third NBA Championship in seven years, there was a
sense that the Spurs were the class of the NBA, and once again would
be the team to beat in the NBA for the Championship.[25] For the
2005–06 season, the Spurs acquired the two-time All-Star Michael
Finley and one-time All Star Nick Van Exel. Not surprisingly, the
Spurs would come flying out of the gate, winning 16 of their first 19
games. Once again, the Spurs would get challenged within their own
division by the
Dallas MavericksDallas Mavericks as they held the two best records in
the Western Conference all season, battling for first place. In the
end, the experience of the Spurs would be the difference as they won
the Southwest Division again with a new franchise best record of
63–19.[25] The Spurs met the Mavericks in the second round of the
playoffs, but it would be Dallas coming out on top 4–3, including a
119–111 overtime victory in Game 7.
The Spurs struggled during the first half of the 2006–07 season,
which led to discussions of trading away veteran players to build for
the future. The team remained intact, and the Spurs would win 13 games
in a row during February and March, and were an NBA-best 25–6 in the
final 31 games, as the Spurs were able to claim the 3-seed in the
West. The Spurs cruised through the first round, while the #1-seeded
Dallas MavericksDallas Mavericks were upset. This set up a second-round series with
the
Phoenix SunsPhoenix Suns as the key series in the entire NBA Playoffs, as this
series featured the teams with the two best records remaining in the
NBA.
The Spurs went on to win 4–2 in the contentious and controversial
series versus the Suns. The series featured a
Robert HorryRobert Horry foul on
Steve NashSteve Nash toward the end of Game 4 which resulted in Horry being
suspended for two games. Those who said the second-round series
against the Suns was the true
NBA FinalsNBA Finals would be proven right, as the
Spurs easily dispatched the
Utah JazzUtah Jazz in five games to reach the NBA
Finals. In the Finals, the Spurs swept the
Cleveland CavaliersCleveland Cavaliers and
captured their fourth title in nine years. Tony Parker, who dominated
in the Finals averaging 24.5 ppg on 57% shooting, was named Finals MVP
and became the first European-born player to win the award.[30]
The 2007–2008 season saw the Spurs go 56–26 and finish 3rd in the
Western Conference. The Spurs faced hurdles but would make it to the
Western Conference Finals, but lose to the Lakers in five games. The
next season would see the Spurs drop off in wins to 54–28 and lose
to the
Dallas MavericksDallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs.
Two days before the 2009 NBA draft, general manager
R. C. Buford acted
to address the team's age and health concerns[31] by acquiring
29-year-old swingman
Richard JeffersonRichard Jefferson from the Milwaukee Bucks. The
Spurs sent 38-year-old Bruce Bowen, 36-year-old Kurt Thomas, and
34-year-old
Fabricio ObertoFabricio Oberto to the Bucks, who swapped Oberto to the
Detroit PistonsDetroit Pistons for Amir Johnson.
The Spurs held three 2nd-round picks in the 2009 draft. Their
selection of Pittsburgh Panthers forward
DeJuan BlairDeJuan Blair with the #37
pick was described as a "steal" by analysts;[32][33] the Spurs later
drafted two guards they had been targeting with the No. 37 pick,[34]
taking Miami Hurricanes shooting guard
Jack McClintonJack McClinton and
point/shooting guard
Nando de ColoNando de Colo from France with the No. 51 and No.
53 picks, respectively. On July 10, 2009, the Spurs signed Detroit
Pistons power forward
Antonio McDyessAntonio McDyess to a three-year deal worth
approximately $15 million in guaranteed money.[35]
The Spurs struggled with injuries during the 2009–10 regular season,
but managed another 50-win season, finishing at 50–32. The
seventh-seeded Spurs would once again battle the Mavericks in the
first round of the playoffs. After falling to the Mavericks in Game 1,
the Spurs went on to avenge their 2009 defeat to Dallas by winning the
series in six games. The Spurs however, were swept out of the playoffs
in the following round by the Phoenix Suns.

During the 2010 NBA draft, the Spurs management held the highest draft
pick since the
Tim DuncanTim Duncan draft a decade earlier. They drafted rookie
James Anderson from Oklahoma State at #20.[36] However, Anderson was
soon sitting out of the first half of the season due to injuries. In
2010–11, the Spurs finished 61–21 to be the #1 seed, but an injury
to Ginóbili in the final regular season game took a toll on the team,
and they were upset by the #8 seeded Memphis Grizzlies.
2011 brought a change to the Spurs' philosophy that set the stage for
the next successful run in the club's history. Out went the stream of
last-legs, wizened veterans that the Spurs had relied on to fill out
the rotation behind the Big Three. Minutes went to younger and more
athletic talent like Danny Green, Gary Neal, and Tiago Splitter, to
whom Popovich would teach The Spurs' Way – a fast pace, unselfish
passing, and accountability on defense. The biggest personnel move of
the Spurs' off-season had the club sending the beloved guard George
Hill to his hometown
Indiana PacersIndiana Pacers for San Diego State's Kawhi
Leonard, a hyper-athletic forward selected #15 overall by the Pacers
in the 2011 NBA draft. The team also selected
TexasTexas Longhorns' Cory
Joseph as the #29 overall pick.
After the lockout that delayed the 2011–2012 season, the Spurs
signed T.J. Ford, who would eventually retire in the middle of the
season after playing only 14 games due to a stinger. Before the trade
deadline, the Spurs decided to part ways with
Richard JeffersonRichard Jefferson and
sent him to the
Golden State WarriorsGolden State Warriors for Stephen Jackson, who had
been a member of the 2003 championship team. Leonard then became the
starting small forward. In the week following the trade deadline, the
Spurs also signed forward
Boris DiawBoris Diaw after his contract was bought out
by the Charlotte Bobcats, and former
Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail Blazers guard
Patrick MillsPatrick Mills who played for the
Xinjiang Flying TigersXinjiang Flying Tigers in the CBA
during the lockout. This gave the Spurs a deeper bench for their
playoff run.

Despite the shortened 66-game NBA season due to the NBA lockout, the
Spurs won 50 games and tied the
Chicago BullsChicago Bulls for the best record in
the league. They extended their streak of 50+ win seasons to 13 since
the 1999–2000 season, an NBA record. Popovich won his second Coach
of the Year.[37]
The Spurs swept the first two rounds of the Playoffs. With those two
sweeps, a 10-game win streak to end the season, and wins in Games 1
and 2 of the Western Conference Finals, the Spurs would win 20
straight games. However, the
Oklahoma City ThunderOklahoma City Thunder would end up
winning the next four games in the West Finals, to take the series
4–2.
During the 2012 off-season, the Spurs re-signed swingman Danny Green,
who was a welcome surprise for them from the previous season, and Tim
Duncan, both for three years. The Spurs would have a strong 2012–13
season, going 58–24 and earning the #2 seed in the West.
The Spurs clinched the playoffs for a 16th consecutive season, as well
as extended the NBA record with 50+ games for 14 consecutive seasons.
On April 16, the Spurs signed two-time scoring champion, and
seven-time All-Star
Tracy McGradyTracy McGrady to help in the playoffs after
waiving Stephen Jackson.[38] The Spurs finished the regular season
second in the Western Conference behind the
Oklahoma City ThunderOklahoma City Thunder with
a record of 58–24, and swept the
Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers in the first
round, 4–0. In the second round of the 2013 playoffs, the Spurs
faced Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. They beat the
Warriors four games to two.[39] In the conference finals, the Spurs
swept the Memphis Grizzlies, with
Tony ParkerTony Parker having an 18-assist
performance in Game 2 and a 37-point performance in Game 4.[40] The
Spurs would meet the defending champion
Miami HeatMiami Heat in the NBA Finals.
The Spurs and Heat would alternate wins the first six games in the
series. In Game 6, the Spurs were on the verge of winning their fifth
NBA title.
San AntonioSan Antonio was up five points with 28 seconds to go in
regulation. An unlikely and uncharacteristic series of mishaps would
doom the Spurs down the stretch, including the benching of Duncan by
Popovich at the end of regulation with the Spurs on defense. The Heat
missed their field goal attempt, but the undersized Spurs could not
grab the defensive rebound.
Chris BoshChris Bosh rebounded the ball and Ray
Allen then hit a 3-pointer to tie the game with five seconds left in
regulation to send it to overtime, during which the Spurs were
defeated 103–100. In Game 7,
San AntonioSan Antonio jumped out to a lead early
and kept the game close the entire way. Toward the end of the game,
however, and despite a 24-point, 12 rebound effort, Duncan failed to
convert on two attempts to tie the game: a missed layup and missed
tip-in that allowed LeBron James to hit a jumper and increase the
Heat's lead to 92–88. After a steal from Ginóbili, James hit two
free throws after being fouled by Duncan, and when Ginóbili missed a
subsequent 3-pointer,
Dwyane WadeDwyane Wade hit one out of two from the free
throw line to put the game on ice, as the Heat would win their second
straight championship.[41]
2013–2016: Fifth championship and Duncan's retirement[edit]
The Spurs returned with their core roster largely intact, adding free
agents
Marco BelinelliMarco Belinelli and
Jeff AyresJeff Ayres (formerly Jeff Pendergraph)
while losing
Gary NealGary Neal to the Milwaukee Bucks. The Spurs clinched the
best record in the NBA with 62 wins, which included a franchise record
19 straight wins in February and March. In the first round of the
playoffs, the eighth-seeded
Dallas MavericksDallas Mavericks surprised the Spurs by
taking the series to 7 games, but the Spurs prevailed in convincing
fashion in the deciding Game 7. In the second round, Tim Duncan
surpassed
Karl MaloneKarl Malone for fifth place in
NBA PlayoffsNBA Playoffs all-time points
scored while the Spurs cruised past the
Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail Blazers in 5
games.
San AntonioSan Antonio played the
Oklahoma City ThunderOklahoma City Thunder in the Western
Conference Finals, which marked the third straight appearance in the
Western Conference Finals for the Spurs, and defeated them in 6 games
to advance to the Finals for a second straight year for a rematch with
the Miami Heat. It was also the first time that they had advanced to
the Finals in consecutive years. This made it the first time since
1998
NBA FinalsNBA Finals that the same two teams faced off in the Finals in
consecutive years. With a victory in the second game of the series,
Duncan, Ginóbili, and Parker won more playoff games together than any
other three players on the same team in NBA history. The Spurs would
go on to win the 2014 NBA Championship, 4 games to 1. The Spurs blew
out Miami in all of their wins, each of them by 15 or more points.
Kawhi LeonardKawhi Leonard had a breakout performance and was named
NBA FinalsNBA Finals MVP
for his big game performance and is the third youngest to win it,
behind
Magic JohnsonMagic Johnson and teammate Duncan. In the 2014 NBA draft, they
selected Kyle Anderson out of UCLA as the 30th overall pick.
During the 2014 offseason, the Spurs made headlines when they
announced that they had hired
Becky HammonBecky Hammon as an assistant coach,
effective with her retirement as a player at the end of the 2014 WNBA
season.[42] Hammon became the first full-time female coach in any of
the four major U.S. professional leagues.[43]
The 2014–15 season was an up-and-down season, but finishing strong
with a 55–27 regular season record and 6th seed in the West, they
qualified for the playoffs. They faced the
Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles Clippers in the
first round of the playoffs. The Spurs went up 3–2 heading into Game
6 at San Antonio. However, the Clippers would win that game and go on
to win Game 7 at home. The
San AntonioSan Antonio Spurs became the first
defending champions since the 2011–12
Dallas MavericksDallas Mavericks to be
eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
With the acquisitions of David West and
LaMarcus AldridgeLaMarcus Aldridge during the
offseason, the Spurs finished with a 67–15 record, their best
winning percentage in franchise history, earning them the Southwest
Division title. They also set a franchise record for most wins in a
season with 67 and a NBA record for most home wins in a season with 40
(tying the 1985–86
Boston CelticsBoston Celtics 40–1 home record).[44] The Spurs
also had the league's best defense.[45] During the playoffs they swept
the shorthanded Memphis Grizzles in the first round before losing to
the
Oklahoma City ThunderOklahoma City Thunder in 6 games in the second round. They would
become the first team since the 2006–07
Dallas MavericksDallas Mavericks to finish
with 67 wins and be eliminated before the conference finals.[46]
On July 11, 2016, Duncan announced his retirement from the NBA after
19 seasons with the Spurs.[47]
2016–present:
Kawhi LeonardKawhi Leonard era[edit]
Despite the loss of longtime captain Tim Duncan, the Spurs, now led by
Kawhi Leonard, remained a perennial playoff contender and finished
with a record of 61–21. After defeating the Grizzlies and the
Rockets in the first two rounds, the Spurs ended the season with a
four-game sweep to the eventual champions Golden State Warriors, with
injuries to Leonard, Parker, and David Lee in the playoffs. In the
following offseason, the Spurs re-signed Aldridge and Pau Gasol,
signed Rudy Gay, but lost
Dewayne DedmonDewayne Dedmon and
Jonathon Simmons to free
agency.
On April 3, 2018, the
Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles Clippers defeated the Spurs 113-110,
handing
San AntonioSan Antonio their 33rd loss of the season. This loss ended the
Spurs' record streak of eighteen 50-win seasons that had stretched
back to 2000, including the 2011-12 season which was shortened by a
lockout (
San AntonioSan Antonio finished 50-16), as the best possible finish for
the Spurs was now 49-33.
Rivalries[edit]
Los Angeles Lakers[edit]
Main article: Lakers–Spurs rivalry

Starting in 1999, the Spurs and Lakers combined to win 7 straight
Western Conference titles. Although the rivalry cooled off recently,
the teams still retain many players who were part of the championship
clubs.

The rivalry between the
San AntonioSan Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Lakers
started in the late 1970s and peaked in the late 1990s and early
2000s. Since 1999, the teams have met in the
NBA PlayoffsNBA Playoffs 7 times,
with the clubs combining to appear in seven straight
NBA FinalsNBA Finals from
1999 to 2005. Additionally, the teams won each NBA Title from 1999 to
2003 (the Spurs won in 1999 and 2003, while the Lakers won in 2000,
2001, and 2002). From 1999 to 2004, the rivalry was considered as the
NBA's best,[48] as each time the clubs faced each other in the
playoffs, the winner advanced to the NBA Finals. The rivalry fell off
from 2005 to 2007, with the Lakers missing the playoffs in 2005 and
losing in the first round to the
Phoenix SunsPhoenix Suns in 2006 and 2007, but
intensified again in 2008 when they met in the Western Conference
Finals. Both teams met once again for the 12th time in 2013 in the
first round, with the Spurs winning in four games.
Dallas Mavericks[edit]
The rivalry between the
San AntonioSan Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks
features two teams with Dallas roots. The Spurs began their life in
the ABA as the
Dallas Chaparrals and did not move to
San AntonioSan Antonio until
1973. On October 11, 1980, the Mavs made their NBA debut by defeating
the Spurs 103–92. In the playoffs the Spurs defeated the Mavericks
in 2001, 2003, 2010, and 2014; while the Mavericks defeated the Spurs
in 2006 and 2009. The Spurs have won five championships and six
conference titles, while the Mavericks have won one championship and
two conference titles. The Spurs have won 18 division titles, while
the Mavericks have won 3. The Mavericks have three 60-win seasons,
while the Spurs have five.
The two teams met in the playoffs during the 2000–2001 season with
the Spurs winning in five games. Little was made during this series,
as the Spurs won their first NBA championship only two years before.
The Mavericks, run by a trio of Steve Nash, Michael Finley, and Dirk
Nowitzki, had just defeated the Utah Jazz, despite not having home
court advantage, and were only starting to meld into a title
contender.
The rivalry took on a new meaning in 2005 when, near the end of the
regular season,
Don NelsonDon Nelson resigned as Dallas' head coach, apparently
dissatisfied with the state of the team, and handed the coaching reins
to former
SpurSpur Avery Johnson, the point guard of the 1999 NBA champion
Spurs team who hit the game-winning shot against the New York Knicks.
Since Johnson was coached under Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich, he
would be familiar with most, if not all, of Popovich's coaching style
and philosophy. During the 2005 offseason, Michael Finley, waived by
the Mavericks under the amnesty clause, joined the Spurs in search for
an elusive title victory, that he finally was part of with the Spurs
in 2007. Ironically, part of his salary was being paid for by the
Mavericks during that season to allow for cap room.
The Mavericks were swept in the 2012–13 season by the Spurs for the
first time since the 1998 season, Tim Duncan's rookie season. In their
last match up of the season,
San AntonioSan Antonio escaped with a 95–94
victory over Dallas when a
Vince CarterVince Carter 3-point attempt bounced off
the rim at the buzzer. With that win, the Spurs clinched a playoff
spot for a 16th straight season, currently the longest streak in the
NBA.
San AntonioSan Antonio also reached 50 wins for a 14th consecutive season,
the longest streak in NBA history.[49]
In the 2013–14 season, the Spurs once again swept the Mavs in the
regular season, giving them nine straight victories. In addition, an
overtime loss to the
Memphis GrizzliesMemphis Grizzlies on April 16, 2014 ensured that
the Mavericks would face the Spurs once again in the 2014 NBA
Playoffs, where the Mavs would be the eighth seed and
San AntonioSan Antonio the
first. In Game 1 in San Antonio, the game was relatively close. Dallas
managed to reach an 81–71 lead in the fourth quarter, but the Spurs
rallied back and took Game 1 at home, 90–85. However, the Mavs
managed to force 22 turnovers in Game 2 to rout the Spurs 113–92,
splitting the first two games before the series went to Dallas. In
Game 3,
Manu GinóbiliManu Ginóbili managed to hit a shot that put the Spurs up
108–106 with 1.7 left, but a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Vince
Carter gave the Mavs the victory, putting them up 2–1 in the series.
The Spurs took Game 4 in Dallas 93–89 and later Game 5 at home
109–103, giving them a 3–2 lead. The Mavs avoided elimination in
Game 6 at home by rallying in the fourth quarter, winning 111–113.
The Spurs would then advance to the second round with a Game 7
blowout, winning 119–96.
Houston Rockets[edit]
Main article: Rockets–Spurs rivalry
Also known as the I-10 Rivalry since
San AntonioSan Antonio and Houston both lie
on the path of the
Interstate 10Interstate 10 freeway. The rivalry between the San
Antonio Spurs and the
Houston RocketsHouston Rockets began in 1976 when the Spurs
were absorbed into the NBA from the American Basketball Association,
along with the Denver Nuggets, the New York Nets, and the Indiana
Pacers. The Rockets and Spurs competed for the division title, with
the Rockets winning it first in 1977 and the Spurs in 1978 and 1979.
In 1980, they met in the playoffs for the first time as the Rockets
led by
Moses MaloneMoses Malone and
Calvin MurphyCalvin Murphy beat the Spurs led by George
Gervin and
James Silas 2–1. The rivalry grew intense as both teams
moved from the East to the West. They met again in 1981, this time in
the second round. The Spurs had home-court advantage, and were heavily
favored, winning the Midwest Division Title and the Rockets only
40–42. The Rockets and Spurs fought to the bitter end before the
Rockets held on to win Game 7 capped by Murphy's 42 points. The
Rockets would advance to the Finals in a losing cause to the Boston
Celtics. The rivalry continued in 1995 when the defending champion
Rockets led by
Hakeem OlajuwonHakeem Olajuwon beat the top-seeded Spurs led by MVP
David Robinson in the Western Conference Finals, despite only being
the sixth seed, with Olajuwon, who had won the previous year's MVP,
being widely regarded as having outplayed Robinson. In a regular
season game early in the 2005 season, the Spurs were leading the
Rockets very late in the fourth quarter by eight points. Houston's
Tracy McGradyTracy McGrady went on a personal 13–4 run in the final 35 seconds to
miraculously steal the game away from San Antonio, including the game
winning 3 pointer with one second remaining to the delight of the
Toyota CenterToyota Center crowd.
The rivalry was renewed in the 2017 Playoffs, in which the two teams
met in the Western Conference Semifinals. The match-up was the first
between the two teams in the playoffs since the 1995 Western
Conference Finals.[50] Five of the six games in the series resulted in
blowouts.[51] In game 2 of the series, starting point guard Tony
Parker suffered a ruptured quadriceps tendon, forcing him to miss the
remainder of the playoffs.[52] In game 5, all-star small forward Kawhi
Leonard suffered an injury to his right ankle in the third quarter,
resulting in him sitting out for the closing portions of the game.
Despite the injury issues, the Spurs were able to send game 5 to
overtime. In the overtime period,
Manu GinóbiliManu Ginóbili blocked James
Harden's three-point attempt in the final seconds to secure the
110–107 victory for the Spurs.[53] The Spurs would close out the
series in a game 6 blowout, 114–75.
Phoenix Suns[edit]
Main article: Spurs–Suns rivalry
The rivalry between the Spurs and the
Phoenix SunsPhoenix Suns began in the 1990s
when the Spurs were led by "The Admiral", David Robinson, and the Suns
were propelled by a number of players including Dan Majerle, Kevin
Johnson, and Tom Chambers. The rivalry continued into the next decade
with
Tim DuncanTim Duncan leading the Spurs and with the Suns headed by Steve
Nash. In 2003, the Spurs beat the Suns 4–2 in the first round. In
2005, the Spurs beat the Suns 4–1 in the Conference Finals. In 2007,
the Spurs beat the Suns 4–2 in a Conference Semi-finals series that
was notable for putting the two best teams remaining in the NBA
against each other. There was a controversial ruling in game 4 when
Diaw and Stoudemire left the bench during an altercation and were
suspended for game 5. In 2008, the Spurs beat the Suns 4–1 in the
first round.
Tim DuncanTim Duncan hit a three-pointer to force overtime and win
the series. In 2010, the Suns swept the Spurs in four games in the
playoffs, including a big time performance by
Goran DragicGoran Dragic in game 3,
against the team who originally drafted him, scoring 23 fourth quarter
points, which amounted to 26 points in thirteen minutes. The rivalry
has cooled off, with the Spurs winning most of the meetings, but that
was not the case on February 21, 2014, where the Suns blew out the
road-weary Spurs, who were ending the Rodeo Road Trip in Phoenix,
106–85.
Markieff MorrisMarkieff Morris of the Suns lead all scorers with 26 points.
Danny Green lead the Spurs with a low 15 points. On April 11, 2014,
the Spurs clinched the league-best record, and at the same time,
handing the Suns a loss that would keep them out of the postseason,
winning 112–104, with Danny Green setting a career high 33 points.
In a pre-season game on October 16, 2014, Suns owner Robert Sarver
apologized to the Phoenix crowd for the game, where the Spurs rested 5
people, including Popovich. Pop would only end his statement about the
incident with, "The only thing that surprises me is that he didn't say
it in a chicken suit."
Logo and uniforms[edit]

The Spurs sported radially-arched black and white letters on their
uniforms during much of the 1980s.[54]

Since becoming the
San AntonioSan Antonio Spurs in 1973, the team colors have
been black, silver and white. The distinctive logo of the word Spurs
in
EurostileEurostile font, with the stylized spur substituting for the letter
U, has been a part of the team's identity since their move to San
Antonio.[54][55] The logo incorporated 'Fiesta colors' of pink, orange
and teal, used from 1989 to 2002 (though the uniforms remained the
same), and alignment from straight to arched beginning with the
2002–03 NBA season.
The Spurs have always worn black on the road and white at home, except
during the 1973–76 ABA seasons and their first NBA season when the
home uniform was always silver. Until the 1988–89 NBA season, the
road uniform had "San Antonio" on the front while the home uniform
featured the team nickname adopted from the Spurs logo; from 1973 to
1982, the road uniform lettering was black with silver trim. In
addition, from 1977 to 1981 a saddle-like striping was featured on the
back of the home shorts. Since the
1989–90 NBA season the Spurs
uniform has remained practically the same, with the road uniform now
using the team nickname from their logo; a minor change included the
addition of another black (road) and white (home) trim to the already
silver-trimmed block numbers in the 2002–03 season. The Spurs wear
black sneakers and socks on the road, and white sneakers and socks at
home (except for select games with the silver alternates), a practice
that began in the 2002–03 season. When the NBA moved to the Adidas
Revolution 30 technology for the 2010–11 season, the Spurs changed
to V-neck jerseys and eliminated striping on the shorts' beltline.
On September 19, 2012, the Spurs unveiled a silver alternate uniform.
In breaking from the traditional practice of placing the team or city
name in front, the Spurs' new uniform features only the stylized spur
logo, with the black number trimmed in white and silver on the upper
right. The Spurs primary logo is atop the player name and number on
the back (replaced by the NBA logo prior to the 2014–15 season),
while the
EurostileEurostile 'SA' initials (for San Antonio) are on the left
leg of the shorts. Black, silver and white side stripes are also
featured on the uniform. The uniforms are worn for select home
games.[56] A variation of this uniform, featuring military camouflage
patterns instead of the usual silver, was used for two games in the
2013–14 season; a sleeved version was used the next season.[57]
Another variation, this time in black, was unveiled for the 2015–16
season.[58]
At times throughout the season, the Spurs wear a jersey that says "Los
Spurs" on the front, in recognition of Latino fans both at home and
across the US and Latin America. The Spurs were one of the first NBA
teams to wear these branded jerseys. In 2014, the jerseys were
sleeved. These events are called "Noches Latinas", first launched
during the 2006–07 NBA season, part of an Hispanic marketing
campaign known as "éne-bé-a".[59] Six teams in the NBA participate
in these events. The Spurs have had the most players from Latin
America and are one of only three NBA teams who have had at least five
players on their rosters who originate from Latin America and Spain
(if one includes Puerto Rico as part of Latin America, although it is
a U.S. territory), the others being the
Memphis GrizzliesMemphis Grizzlies and the
Portland Trail Blazers.[60]
The switch to Nike as the uniform provider in 2017 eliminated the
"home" and "away" uniform designations. The Spurs' black "Icon",
silver "Statement" and white "Association" uniform remained identical
to the previous set save for the manufacturer's logo and updated
lettering on the team name.[61]
Season-by-season record[edit]
List of the last five seasons completed by the Spurs. For the full
season-by-season history, see List of
San AntonioSan Antonio Spurs seasons.
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, % = Winning
Percentage

Retained draft rights[edit]
The Spurs own the NBA rights to the players listed in the table below.
The typical pattern is to allow the player to develop in leagues
outside the United States. The player is free to negotiate contracts
in other leagues and is not obligated to play in the NBA. Sometimes, a
player's overseas contract may have an expensive buyout clause that
would discourage the Spurs from seeking to bring him in. The Spurs
have had past success in finding foreign talent; some examples of this
success include the selections of second rounder
Manu GinóbiliManu Ginóbili (57th
overall in 1999) and first rounder
Tony ParkerTony Parker (28th overall in 2001),
who both went on to become All-Stars.

1 Played and coached (1967–1970) for the team when they were known
as
Dallas Chaparrals (ABA).
2 Started playing for the team during its time in ABA.
3 In total, Robinson was inducted into the Hall of Fame twice – as
player and as a member of the 1992 Olympic team.

Franchise leaders[edit]
Bold denotes still active with team. "Name*" includes points scored
for the team while in the ABA. Italics denotes still active but not
with team.
Points scored (regular season) (as of the end of the 2016–17
season)[73]

1 During the 1979–80 season,
Doug MoeDoug Moe coached 66 regular season
games. Moe was fired on March 1, 1980, and
Bob Bass coached the
remaining 16 regular season games as well as the playoffs.
2 During the 1983–84 season,
Morris McHone coached 31 regular season
games. McHone was fired on December 28, 1983, and
Bob Bass coached the
remaining 51 regular season games.
3 During the 1991–92 season, Larry Brown coached 38 regular season
games. Brown was fired on January 21, 1992, and
Bob Bass coached the
remaining 44 regular season games as well as the playoffs.
4 During the 1992–93 season,
Jerry Tarkanian coached 20 regular
season games. Tarkanian was fired on December 18, 1992. Rex Hughes
then coached one regular season game, and John Lucas coached the
remaining 61 regular season games as well as the playoffs.
5 During the 1996–97 season,
Bob HillBob Hill coached 18 regular season
games. Hill was fired on December 10, 1996, and
Gregg PopovichGregg Popovich coached
the remaining 64 regular season games.

The Alamo
Alamo Cenotaph
La Antorcha de la Amistad
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower
Cathedral of San Fernando
HemisFair '68
Houston Street
San AntonioSan Antonio Zoo
Tower of the Americas
Tower Life Building

The Alamo Colleges
Baptist School of Health Professions
Cancer Therapy & Research Center
Children's Cancer Research Institute
Oblate School of Theology
Our Lady of the Lake University
San AntonioSan Antonio Public Library
South
TexasTexas Medical Center
TexasTexas Biomedical Research Institute
Southwest Research Institute
St. Mary's University
TexasTexas A&M University–San Antonio
TexasTexas Neurosciences Institute
Trinity University
University Hospital System
University of the Incarnate Word
University of
TexasTexas Health Science Center
University of
TexasTexas at San Antonio